Creative Health in Museums

Creative Health in museums is about using museum spaces, collections and creative activities to improve mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing. It includes art-making workshops, reminiscence sessions, sensory tours, social prescribing partnerships, and outreach projects. These initiatives are especially valuable for people experiencing loneliness, long-term health conditions, stress, dementia, or mental health challenges.

Key Elements 

• Participation & Creativity – hands-on making, storytelling, music, movement, or object-handling to build confidence and self-expression.
• Connection & Community – Museums offer safe, inclusive spaces that foster social connection and reduce isolation.
• Heritage & Identity – Engaging with museum collections helps people explore identity, memory, and meaning, which supports psychological wellbeing.
• Accessibility & Inclusion – Programmes designed in a way that they are inclusive for everyone, including neurodiverse participants, older adults, or those with disabilities.
• Partnerships with health services – Increasingly linked to social prescribing, where health professionals refer people to cultural activities as part of their care.
• Evidence-based – Research shows museum-based creative engagement can reduce anxiety, support cognitive stimulation, and enhance quality of life.

Check out our events and exhibitions page for all our regular creative health inspired events and activities.

One of our newest creative health programmes to be launched is:

Musical Memories

Saffron Walden Museum launched a new creative health project on Monday 6 October 2025, with the support of Uttlesford District Council staff and 12 residents at Walden Place sheltered accommodation.

Musical Memories uses informal musical participation to prompt reminiscences. Residents enjoyed learning ukulele chords to accompany themselves singing their favourite songs. These ranged from ukulele classic ‘Leaning on a Lampost’ through Rod Stewart’s version of ‘Sailing’, a table-thumping rendition of ‘The Wild Rover’ before rocking out to Status Quo’s version of ‘Rocking All Over the World’.

Playing and singing prompted residents to share stories of when they had first heard the songs – at a church disco in Littlebury village hall, at a folk club in the Kings Arms, in the two original Saffron Walden cinemas, and as part of a Status Quo/Joe Cocker/Rod Stewart triple bill at Ipswich Football Ground.

Residents commented ‘it was thoroughly enjoyed by all… a fun couple of hours!’. They were delighted to have been chosen for the project launch and suggested other local sheltered accommodation sites whose residents would enjoy the workshop.

In 2026 the Museum will offer Musical Memories sessions in its community room, and visiting sessions will also be available to sheltered housing settings.

If you are interested to book a session, please contact Museum Community Engagement Officer Michael Davidson on mdavidson@uttlesford.gov.uk or on 01799 510300

Launch of Musical Memories at Walden Place, Saffron Walden